Memories of Disappearance

Documentary

ongoing...

Bangladesh

“Memories of Disappearance” examines the rise of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh since
2012, situating it within broader contexts of state violence, political control, and the enduring
trauma of state-sanctioned erasure. The state’s security apparatus, notably The Police and Rapid
Action Battalion have militarized strategies to suppress dissent, leading to over 3,000 forced
disappearances of activists, journalists, students, and dissidents between 2009 and 2022. The July
Uprising in Bangladesh and the subsequent revolution have brought these issues into sharper
focus, particularly as individuals once detained in secret facilities began to emerge, bearing
testimony to the harrowing conditions of their captivity and the state's tactics of suppression. Their
stories provide further illuminating evidence of the systemic nature of these enforced
disappearances. Enforced disappearances leave profound psychological, social, and political scars.
Survivors recount experiences of isolation, torture, and dehumanization, while families—especially
mothers, wives, and children are left in perpetual limbo, caught between hope and despair. In their
struggle, families practice ritualized gestures signifying a silent form of resistance against state-
sanctioned erasure. These quiet acts challenge the state's narrative, asserting their continued
existence and memory of the disappeared. In the aftermath of the July Uprising political prisoners
were released from secret detention centers. Their stories of survival and resilience have reignited
public discourse on state accountability, human rights, and the need for justice in post-revolution
Bangladesh. Globally, enforced disappearances are a hallmark of authoritarian regimes, used to stifle dissent and instill fear, as seen in Argentina, Chile and Kashmir. In Bangladesh, these
disappearances neutralized political opposition while also creating a pervasive climate of fear that
deters broader resistance. My project seeks to explore the gendered dimensions of the trauma
wrought by enforced disappearances and the quiet, everyday forms of resistance that emerge in
response. By analyzing the experiences of victims and their families, I aim to contribute to broader
discourses on state violence, human rights, and the politics of memory. Additionally, I consider the
role of photography and advocacy in preserving these narratives, ensuring that the disappeared are
not erased from history and that justice remains a possibility.